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In Hamilton Wood

[creator]: Garof, Peter · b. 1774[creator]: Williams, Hugh William "Grecian" · 1773-1829

In Hamilton Wood

In 1801 John Stoddart referred to Williams at work in Hamilton Wood, near Glasgow: Hamilton wood has some of the finest and most picturesque old oaks…

In 1801 John Stoddart referred to Williams at work in Hamilton Wood, near Glasgow:
Hamilton wood has some of the finest and most picturesque old oaks in Britain; it is far richer than Windsor, in forest scenery; and affords an inexhaustible fund of study to the painter. In speaking thus, I do not rely on the transient view which I had of it; but on the opinion of my friend Mr. Williams, and on most convincing proofs, afforded by his pencil.
This must refer to the preparatory work Williams made for his Etchings of Local Subjects - intended to assist in the Study of Nature, published in Edinburgh in 1801. The etchings fall into the period when Williams moved from the west to the east coast and indeed, the Scotsman's report of his activities around Edinburgh in 1801, is the first indication that he had settled on the east coast, for good, as it turned out.

It is with pleasure, we understand, that Mr. Williams, of this place, is just now employing his evenings in etching a few select local subjects, which he hopes to present to the public...

On the 24th April 1801 an advertisement for the etchings appeared: This day is published, (Price One Guinea in Boards). Dedicated to the Rt. Hon. Lady Frances Douglas. Etchings of Local Subjects - intended to assist in the study of nature, by Hugh William Williams, Edinburgh. Published for the author and sold by Manners and Miller, Parliament Sq. and P. Garof, Printseller, Hanover St.[

Only one complete set, in boards, in the library of the Royal Scottish Academy is presently known, the 16 etchings there dated 1808 and dedicated to the Rt. Hon. Lady Charlotte Hope.

The Print Room of the British Museum holds a set of artist's proofs of some of these etchings, with additions in Indian ink and white bodycolour. That of Craigmillar Castle, for example, shows alterations. The museum set is bound in a soft paper cover and each etching is mounted [tipped] on a support on which the title is inscribed in pencil. Most are signed on the mount by Williams. The print room has a number of loose etchings, which from the visible evidence, may have been taken from bound sets. One (1875.4.10.127) is engraved "Publ. by P. Garof, Edinburgh. 1st Jan 1814." suggesting that there may have been at least three separate publications. No surviving examples are known of the 1801 publication, and the Album in the Royal Scottish Academy was published in 1808. It may well be that another group of etchings, from much larger plates, and again represented in the British Museum by a group of artist's proofs, were in fact published, but in insufficient numbers to have survived. Certainly a title page inscribed "Six Etchings of Local Subjects. From Nature by H. W. Williams" survives with this proof set.
(text (c) Joe Rock, vide https://sites.google.com/site/hughwilliamwilliams/home/the-work/printmaking)

In 1801 John Stoddart referred to Williams at work in Hamilton Wood, near Glasgow:
Hamilton wood has some of the finest and most picturesque old oaks in Britain; it is far richer than Windsor, in forest scenery; and affords an inexhaustible fund of study to the painter. In speaking thus, I do not rely on the transient view which I had of it; but on the opinion of my friend Mr. Williams, and on most convincing proofs, afforded by his pencil.
This must refer to the preparatory work Williams made for his Etchings of Local Subjects - intended to assist in the Study of Nature, published in Edinburgh in 1801. The etchings fall into the period when Williams moved from the west to the east coast and indeed, the Scotsman's report of his activities around Edinburgh in 1801, is the first indication that he had settled on the east coast, for good, as it turned out.

It is with pleasure, we understand, that Mr. Williams, of this place, is just now employing his evenings in etching a few select local subjects, which he hopes to present to the public...

On the 24th April 1801 an advertisement for the etchings appeared: This day is published, (Price One Guinea in Boards). Dedicated to the Rt. Hon. Lady Frances Douglas. Etchings of Local Subjects - intended to assist in the study of nature, by Hugh William Williams, Edinburgh. Published for the author and sold by Manners and Miller, Parliament Sq. and P. Garof, Printseller, Hanover St.[

Only one complete set, in boards, in the library of the Royal Scottish Academy is presently known, the 16 etchings there dated 1808 and dedicated to the Rt. Hon. Lady Charlotte Hope.

The Print Room of the British Museum holds a set of artist's proofs of some of these etchings, with additions in Indian ink and white bodycolour. That of Craigmillar Castle, for example, shows alterations. The museum set is bound in a soft paper cover and each etching is mounted [tipped] on a support on which the title is inscribed in pencil. Most are signed on the mount by Williams. The print room has a number of loose etchings, which from the visible evidence, may have been taken from bound sets. One (1875.4.10.127) is engraved "Publ. by P. Garof, Edinburgh. 1st Jan 1814." suggesting that there may have been at least three separate publications. No surviving examples are known of the 1801 publication, and the Album in the Royal Scottish Academy was published in 1808. It may well be that another group of etchings, from much larger plates, and again represented in the British Museum by a group of artist's proofs, were in fact published, but in insufficient numbers to have survived. Certainly a title page inscribed "Six Etchings of Local Subjects. From Nature by H. W. Williams" survives with this proof set.
(text (c) Joe Rock, vide https://sites.google.com/site/hughwilliamwilliams/home/the-work/printmaking)